Which sound indicates swelling of the upper airway?

• A. Wheezes.
• B. Crackles.
• C. Rhonchi.
• D. Stridor.

Answer: (D)

Stridor signals swelling of the upper airway. It is a high-pitched, harsh or musical sound heard mainly during inhalation when air must pass through a narrowed larynx or trachea. This narrowing is typically due to swelling near the vocal cords or in the surrounding tissues, indicating an upper airway issue. Other sounds reflect problems in different parts of the respiratory tract: wheezes come from narrowed smaller airways in the lungs, crackles arise from fluid in the alveoli, and rhonchi are coarse noises from secretions in larger airways. Hearing stridor means airway patency is at risk and requires prompt assessment and management to protect the airway.